A not-so-veiled threat?

Roll Call is reporting on some flak that Exxon-Mobil is catching from Congressional Republicans concerning a $500 campaign contribution to DeLay opponent Nick Lampson.

$500. This is a company that just reported a $10 billion profit.

"It clearly forms an overall opinion in Congressional leadership that this company is going to have big problems if this is the way they're trying to play the game," said an unidentified senior House GOP leadership aide. "They have priorities they want that could be impacted." (emphasis added)

$500. In comparison to a $5,000 contribution in the same quarter to DeLay's campaign. So far this cycle, Tory Newmyer reports, a whopping 91 percent of Exxon's political contributions have gone to Republicans. I guess that's what a gift energy bill gets you.

"[The oil companies] are on the wrong side of the American people due to high gas prices," the aide continued. "And they're quickly getting on the wrong side of the majority party."